HISTORIC

02.20.13

Cameron Visits Indian Massacre Site

Cameron in Amritsar, India on Wednesday. (AP)

British Prime Minister David Cameron made a historic visit on Wednesday to Amritsar, where at least 379 Sikh civilians were killed by British troops in 1919. Cameron quoted Winston Churchill, who was secretary of war at the time of the massacre, in describing the mass killing as “monstrous”—although Cameron stopped short of issuing an apology. “This was a deeply shameful event in British history,” Cameron said. British troops opened fire on the civilians during a protest against oppressive laws enforced by the Punjab government—which was overseen by British colonial authorities. Sunil Kapoor, whose great-grandfather was killed in the massacre, said he is “not satisfied” with Cameron’s visit since he had not made an apology. “For 94 years, we are waiting for justice,” Kapoor said.